Today's East station was officially opened by the Prussian state railways on 10 March 1913.

The original station building of 1914 with its huge hall was burnt in World War II and 60% destroyed.

In 2001 construction began for the extension of the platforms to 105 metres, which was completed on 26 April 2007, allowing the unrestricted use of four-car trains.

Rolling stock of the Berlin Duty Train, using sleeper cars and one crew car per train, were stored at this location during the day and then moved to the Frankfurt/Main Hauptbahnhof to pick up passengers for the evening departures to Berlin-Lichterfeld West and, later that night, Bremerhaven.

Complete freight trains are run from the East station yard mainly for the automotive and mining industries.

In the next few years the North Main S-Bahn is expected to be built from Frankfurt East station to Hanau next to the current Frankfurt–Hanau line.

Until a decision is made on the commencement of construction of the S-Bahn line, the current run-down condition of the station is likely to continue.